Micro Pincushion using flystitch

Something to make once you have mastered fly stitch. They are lovely to make and only take about 20mins.

Mini Pincushion, rather addictive to make.

Very close up!

FLY STITCH TUTORIAL

I have been wanting to do this for a long while, that is to give a short tutorial for all the stitches I have used in the kits. The first, which I was been taught by my mother was called fishbone stitch, is more commonly called fly stitch. Confusing I know, but that may happen again in naming stitches. I think we have all grown up with different names for them ... the main thing is to stitch it ... and then call it what you like! Any feedback on this would be lovely, let me know what you have been calling it!

I do love this one. It is so versatile, and can grow and diminish, widen and narrow to great effect, also a good filler, and great for leaves, just a thoroughly good all rounder. I have used an unbleached linen here, and DMC stranded cotton which I get from Cross Stitch Heaven as used in all the kits.

In each tutorial I shall show a few applications, so you can play around at will once you have learnt the basics. There will be (hopefully) one tutorial a week, time allowing ... and maybe a few projects too. I hope you will enjoy!

FLY STITCH

Hand Embroidery Class

Well ... I had a great day at The Sewing Space in Hythe on Friday, and despite the rain we all had a happy time there. I taught the stitches used in the kits and then showed my delightful pupils how to make a little bottle top pincushion! It is a wonderful, colourful and inspiring shop with a little studio at the back where the workshops take place. As you can see they are all smiling! It must have been the tea! The day went so quickly. I was so happy to be able to give all my pupils a brand new, hot off the press calico bag with a few goodies in, because the bags have at last arrived from the printers ... a whole 1000 of them, and I am really pleased with them. So now the new kits will be packed in these, which can also be embroidered. Pictures to follow! For now here are some pictures of the day ....

Some of my pupils practicing their stitches.

The work table in full swing with The Bird Kit about to be stitched!

Some samplers on the go.

Inside the shop, with a very appetizing box felting wool for the felt making classes

Hundreds of bolts of fabric used for patchwork, dressmaking and quilting, and anything else your sewing heart desires!

The Sewing Space interior

Interior of shop with lovely window display of handmade clothes using some of the lovely fabrics on sale.

NIGHTINGALE!

Today 24th April I heard the nightingale though I see from Facebook some others have heard this week too. Magical ... I have found this recording to share but don't know how to have it playing while you read, which would be lovely wouldn't it? Any ideas anyone?

SPRING!

 Right, so here we are in Spring today! It has happened ... I look out of the window and it is GREEN! Biddy and I went for a walk to get away from cutting fabric and packing kits. No coat! Took the camera and here are a few shots of our walk ...

The crab apple in bloom with my workroom window behind, so I look out at this every day ...

A very peaceful spring scene, a very calm mother with her child, for once not bothered by me and Biddy walking through her field. Usually there is lots of hysteria and frantic baa- ing ... but these two were very chilled ...

Wonderful blackthorn buds, perfect round pearls.

The magnolia in the back yard. Magnolia Stellata, completely covered in flowers and the scent in the evening is intoxicating ... I can stand there with my nose in a flower for ages.

 

I just love the hedges in the winter and spring, before they get their leaves, the twisty shapes and lichen, bright against the grey wood is wonderful. My photo library is rather full of photos such as these!

TIGER CAT printables

I have spent the last two days working on this design for a printable, which is a new idea to release something every month which can be downloaded from from the website and keep things always fresh. It also means I can do more of what I long to do, which is designing new things. The last six months has been a wonderful and exciting time but so much of the business side keeps me away from drawing and ideas, and designing new things. The new kits are soon to arrive and also the new packaging, a calico bag which can also be embroidered ... so much will change soon ....

But here he is, the Tiger Cat. I do hope it does well. It is always slightly worrying putting something out there, tentatively putting your toe in the water. Because I really want to do some more now! Show me you like him letting him onto your windowsill! Click on this link to view him on the website

Tiger Cat Printable

Paper Tiger Cat Printable

Miniature Felt Pincushions

Mini Felt pincushions

 I have been going through my work photos, trying to tidy up the visual mess in iphoto. No matter how careful I am things just get lost in there and I forget what work I have done! I loved making these for my friend Tina to sell on her shop Liberty Bee. I made over 30 in the end! They are quick to make and only need the tiniest amount of felt, stuffing and thread and a screw top from a wine bottle. Does this suggest I had to drink 30 bottles of wine to get the tops? I did have plenty of donations!

Golden Hands

I am going to share some of my archive of vintage crafts books, some of which date back to 1800s, though most are 1960s to present day. My first to share is a wonderful compilation book of material published by Marshall Cavendish Ltd in Golden Hands magazine. I found it in a charity shop a few years ago, and what drew me to it was the cover design, an embroidered waistcoat designed by my mother in 1972.  As I remember she did several designs for them but this was the most spectacular! I wonder if anyone made it? I remember her working the sample for the photograph very well. I also show another of my favourites which is so popular in style today!

Golden Hands Book 1972

Another design from Golden Hands Book

Embroideries

I have been going over old work from 6 years ago to last year (the facing birds) for my "gallery" on Tumblr, where I am trying to archive and showcase my work over the years, something which has been quite private before now. It makes me want to do some more embroideries again. But time is so precious now, with the business demanding every moment. I need a "Man (or Girl) Friday really. I have such a huge collection of beautiful fabrics all waiting patiently for me to find that time, all boxed and colour coded, but worryingly getting damp in the garage ... threads all rolling around in the drawers reminding me that I have Not sat down to sew for such a long time.

Tumblr Gallery

Oh dear please be patient with me, I have spent the weekend uploading images onto my new Tumblr gallery and trying to get my over loaded brain around how to link all these things together but not sure yet SO here is an old fashioned invitation please look at my tumblr if you care to! One woman bands are all very well ...

http://nancynicholson.tumblr.com/

Mother's Day

It's another Mother's Day without my dear mother, Joan Nicholson, my great friend and my great inspiration, one of the most creative women I know, always eager to talk of new ideas and listen to those from others. I miss her, but enjoy her with me in my own work.

Screen prints from 2008

Having a much needed computer spring clean today, and found these which I did having a lovely time back in 2008 as Artist in Residence at Benenden Girls School. I still have a folder full of the screen prints from that time ... these are collages from the screen prints. Oh I would love the time to play again with printing. Happy Days! I will post the finished screen prints when I find time to scan them!

Pigeon Poster

I took delivery of the first proofs of the Pigeon print this morning and very pleased with it ... it is a poster though rather than a print, though I am getting some samples done for super duper prints too ... also the samples came for the cloth bag for the kits! It all feels painfully slow but I am getting there. It all seems whizzy but in truth i am sitting here infront of the computer with a quilt wrapped around me and a hotwater bottle at my back as it is freezing and I have run out of logs ... brrr, sick of the cold. Anyway I have posted these new designs onto Facebook now so we shall see. I am still not sure how to use Facebook properly and feel I am being a bit dim about it.

Dilemma

Though I am still wondering whether or not to have a yellow background, behind the stitches ... does anyone have any opinion? Leave comments on my Facebook page please or here ...
This is the yellow, which is a dull yellow / green, a favourite of mine though bright yellow is usually a colour I have difficulty with strangely.

The teapot embroidery came from a sample I did while teaching children and adults to do simple embroidery back in 2000, this is the original one which uses sequins and bits of lace also. but the stitches used are very little really and still have great effect!

I would love to do some beetle stitch kits but not sure how they would go down ...

New Kits

Lovebirds Stitch kit

Tea Pot stitch kit

Well despite having a carpel tunnel op this week ( luckily the left hand!) I have managed to finish designing two of the six new stitch kits, and begun collecting together the posters artworks also. Here is a sneek preview of the two completed which will be available over next couple of weeks all being well with suppliers etc. The kits now will come in a calico drawstring bag which can also be embroidered and makes for a great work bag in which to keep the project while underway ... take a look at the website for details

House and Garden 1951

Here is the article from 1951 House and Garden with my parents tiny flat in Kensington Gardens. My mother always used to say that it was actually very damp and dark and pokey, and to line it with asbestos! The hardboard flooring was constantly curling up and tripping you up ... but it looks so like the beginings of a style I came to know as 'home'. My father and uncle, Robert Nicholson both used to smoke heavily and my mother would say it was quite hard to breath let alone bring up my older brother John then a baby in this little flat. But still my father looks so handsome here, ... and some of the ornaments and pieces of furniture including the Ernest Race rocking chair I still know and love. The rocking chair was also another death trap as small squidgy fingers could be sliced off guillotine style under those rockers! Ah the pitfalls of modern living in the 1950s!

Christmas preparations!

It has been a very busy lead up to the holidays, but now there is a little more time to make presents for friends and family. And the 'card', which I did not do last year and though I DID survive and the world did not end, I did do one this year and am pleased with it. I also designed a free downloadable one for the Christmas Newsletter. But here are some photos of what I have been doing, and enjoying myself in the doing ....